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Congress is considering legislation that would help fund public safety programs and victim services in Indian Country.

The Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment or SURVIVE Act would create a tribal grant program within the Department of Justice. The bill requires that 5 percent of the Crime Victims Fund be provided to Indian Country.

Tribes can then use that money for culturally- based victims services.

Sen. John Hoeven, a Republican from North Dakota, introduced the bill on Wednesday.

“Indians are considered to be one of the most vulnerable populations in the country for a host of reasons,” Hoeven said. “American Indian and Alaska Native women suffer sexual violence at the highest rate per capita in the country, whether its trafficking assault or violent crime.”

The Crime Victims Fund was created in 1984.

Hoeven said in a statement currently an estimated 0.7 percent of it reaches tribes.